Grover mfg



A. R. THOMPSON FEED MECHANISM Oct. 1, 1929.

FOR PRESSURE COOKERS Filed Sept. '7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet E 1 nuiiiiiisw I 7lNfVENT0R.

Oct. 1, 1929. A. R. THOMPSON FEED MECHANISM FOR PRESSURE COOKERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7, 1926 7 INVZTOR.

J ATTORNEY! Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT R. THOMPSON, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ANDERSON-BARN- GROVER MFG. 00., OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA FEED MECHANISM ron' PRESSURE COOKERS Application filed September 7, 1926. Serial No. 134,106.

This invention relates to so-called can feeding or elevating mechanism, particularly designed for use in connection with socalled pressure cookers and is an improvement in the type of can elevator shown, for instance, in my Patent #1,385,594 of July 26, 1 921.

One object of the invention is to insure accurate delivery of the cans by the feed con- 10 veyor to the inlet valve of the cooker thereby preventing jamming of the cans. Another object is to prevent rebounding of the cans out of the pockets of the inlet valve when they are delivered thereinto and also to prevent cans turning up on end out of the pockets, or projecting. out of the pockets so much as to be caught between the edge, of the valve pocket and the end of the inlet opening in the valve housing or casing. Another object is to provide novel means for ejecting cans from the conveyor flight pockets into the valve pockets in event any cans should tend to remain in the flight pocket at the point of registry with the valve pocket. Another object is to discharge from the conveyor any can which might be improperly fed to the conveyor in an upright position, before such I can reaches the point of discharge into the valve pockets, so that such misplaced or improperly fed can will not'reach the valve and either be injured itself, or cause injury to the apparatus, or disarrange the feed of the cans in the apparatus. Other minor features and objects of the invention will be 5 hereinafter mentioned.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical form of apparatus embodying the invention and will describe the same with reference to said drawings, and

10 summarize in the claims the novel features of the invention, and the novel features of constructionand novel combinations of parts for which protection is desired;

In said drawings:

5 Figure l is a side elevation partly broken away, of the delivery end of the can conveyor or elevator and the inlet valve mounted on a cooker; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 2-2 Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an 0 enlarged sectional view on line 33 Fig. 4:;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View on line 4-4 Fig. 3.

For convenience of explanation I will de scribe the can elevator and feeder as applied to a pressure cooker of the general type shown in my Patent #1,385,594 above referred to, such cooker having a closed tank T of any suitable construction within which is arranged a spiral can-way C through which the cans are propelled by a rotating reel R from the feed to the delivery as fully described in my aforesaid patent. The cans are successively fedinto one end of the spiral can-Way, at the inlet end of the cooker, by means of a rotary valve 1, having a series of peripheral can pockets 1. The valve 1 is rotatably mounted in a cylindrical valve casing 1 which may be of any suitable construction. Said casing has an inlet opening in its upper end vertically above the axis of the valve, this opening being slightly lon er than the width of a pocket in the valve circumferentially of the valve) and the valve pockets adapted to successivelyreceive cans from the can elevator as the pockets pass along this opening.

The cans are elevated successively and discharged into the uppermost pocket of the valve by means of an elevator which comprises opposite endless chains 2 of any suitable construction, united at connected intervals by transverse rods 2*. The flights of these chains are suitably supported and guided by any suitable means.

In the construction illustrated the oppositeilights of the chain at the ascending side of theelevator are guided and supported by angle bars 3 (see Fig. 2) attached to any suitable supports, as 3; and the cans are supported in their upward travel on a plate or bar 3", which may be remounted on the supports 3". The cans are also guided in their upward travel on the plate 3 by means of angle bars 3 attached to or suitably supported above the bars 3. The bars 3, 3, and 3" are fastened at their upper ends to opposite side plates or castings 3' which may be supported upon the valve casing 1 and secured thereto by any suitable means as shown brackets 23 are bolted to the valve casing and tween the rods 2 of the elevator will travelin unison with the can pockets 1 of the valve 1, and the successive can spaces of the endless elevator will register with successive can pockets of the valve. Any suitable means may be employed to drive the elevator and valve and cause the valve pockets and the can conveyor pockets to move successively in registry; one such means is shown in my aforesaid patent.

The sprocket gears 4 are preferably formed or provided with radial fingers 4 which are so located as to project between and closely approach the rods 2 of the endless conveyor as the latter moves around and in engagement with the, sprockets at the upper end of the conveyor. These fingers 4 are adapted to project into the conveyor can spaces or pockets and to confine the cans more closely in the conveyor pockets as the cans pass from the upper side of the sprockets down to the lower side thereof and at the point of delivery of the cans into the valve pockets, these fingers insure that the cans w1ll be properly positioned relative to the valve pockets. The conveyor flight pockets, or spaces between adjacent rods 2*, are necessarily somewhat wider than the diameter of the cans and they would ordinarily give the cans so much play or clearance in the pockets that the cans might vary somewhat in position in the conveyor pockets at the point of discharge; but the fingers 4 project into the conveyor pockets as stated and take up the clearance and insure that all the cans will practically have the same relative position in the conveyor pockets at the point of registry thereof with the valve pockets. In the construction shown, the fingers 4 are formed separately from the sprockets and bolted thereto, but I do not consider the invention restricted to the particular construction shown.

The cans are successively fed into the conveyor pockets by any suitable means not shown, such means forming nopart of the invention, and are successively advanced by the conveyor to the sprockets, 4 and are moved around the same until the conveyor pockets register with the valve pockets, where the cans drop by gravity from the conveyor pockets into the valve pockets. When a can has travelled about one-half of the circumference of the sprockets, it approaches the inlet opening in the valve casing, but the can is held closely confined in the conveyor pocket between the fingers 4 and the following rod reason, the (fan does not drop freely by gravity from Q the conveyor into the valve pocketin such case the can w1ll be promptly ejected out of' the conveyor between rod 2 and the fingers 4 by novel ejecting devices which I have provided.

As shown, I provide a three-pointed star wheel or wheels 5, fixedly attached to a pin or stud 5, joiirnaled in the end 6 of a bracket 6 whichf'is secured by bolts 6 to one of the side members 3". The bracket 6 is so shaped that the ejector lies between the sprockets 4 and can rotate independently thereof. An oil pipe 6 is provided for properly lubricating the journal (S 'for stud 5. The bracket 6 may be adjusted so as to properly position the ejector. The lobes of the ejector Wheels 5 are engaged by the rods 2 of the conveyor, and the ejector is thereby operated and in unison with the conveyor. The

ing upon end or coming up just enough to be caught between the edge of the valve pocketand the end b of the inlet opening in the valve casing. In the construction shown, a can dropping from a conveyor pocket into a valve pocket has to drop at least its full diameter into the valve pocket; and when the machine is operated at a high rate of speed there is a tendency of the cans to rebound, so that a can might be caught between the rear wall of the pocket and the end I) of the inlet opening; but if the can does drop freely by gravity into a valve pocket (and not wait for the ejector to eject it), it is nevertheless prevented from rebounding or from being caught in case it should attempt to rebound by the ejector which operates about simultaneously with the descent of the can and a lobe of the ejector will be in position to engage and seat the can in the valve pocket before the can can be caught between the rear wall of the pocket and the edge 6 of the valve inlet opening.

' At the descending side of the sprockets 4 the cans are maintained in position in the llt conveyor pockets by curved guides 7 whose adjacent edges are spaced apart slightly more than the diameter of a can, but less than the length of a can. The cans should be fed horizontally into the conveyor pockets so that they can be rolled upwardly and be delivered sidewise into the pockets out of the conveyor. It sometimeshappens that a can is fed end- Wise or upright into the conveyor pockets, and if a can be brought in such position up to the sprockets 4, as such can reaches the descendin sides of the sprockets it passes between tlie guides 7 and will fall out by grav ity between said guides onto a chute 8 arranged between the brackets 3 and below the axis of the sprockets atso that any such misplaced can will be discharged before it can reach the valve 1. If the cans are lying in normal position horizontally in the conveyor pockets, (Fig. 2) they will be kept in the pockets by the guides 7 as a properly positioned can will bridge the gap between the guides 7 and will passon to the point of discharge into the valve pocket, but any inisplaced can will dropout between the guides 7 on to the discharge chute 8,

The operation of the device and its great practical utility and advantages, will be readily understood from the foregoing description and the drawings. Various changes may be made in the mechanical construction of parts within the scope of the invention, and I do not consider it restricted to the particular form and construction of parts illustrated in the drawing.

1. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless chain conveyor having can pockets, and a valve adjacent the conveyor and below a run thereof, the pockets of the conveyor being adapted t register with pockets of the valve, and means for ejecting cans from the conveyor pockets into the valve poohets passing thereunder.

2. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets, and a valve adjacent the conveyor, the pockets of the conveyor being adapted to register with pockets of the valve; and'means adjacent the valve adapted to project into the conveyor pockets and uniformly positionthe cans in the conveyor pockets prior to their discharge into the valve pockets.

3. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets, and a valveadjacent the conveyor, the pockets oi the conveyor being adapted to register with pockets of the valve; and spaced can guides adapted to permit impro mrly spaced cans to drop out of the. conveyor pockets by gravity before reaching the valve, and to retain properly positioned cans in the conveyor pockets.

4; In apparatus of the character specified,

an endlessconveyor having can pockets; a valve ad acent the conveyor; the pockets of the conveyor being adapted to register with pockets of the valve; and an, ejector adapted to eject cans from the conveyor pockets into the valve pockets.

5. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets, a rotary valve adjacent the conveyor, said conveyor and valve moving at such relative speed that pockets of the conveyor register with pockets of the valve and deliver cans into the valve pockets, and means for preventing abnormal chsplacement of cans 1n the valve pockets.

6. In apparatus of the character specified,

an endless conveyor having can pockets a rotary valve ad acent the conveyor, SilldCOllveyor and valve moving at such relative speed that the pockets of the conveyor register with.

pockets of the valve; and means adapted to position the cans in the conveyor pockets sothat they will be uniformly discharged into the valve pockets.

7. In apparatus of, the character specified,

an endless conveyor having can pockets a rotary valve adjacent the conveyor; said conveyor. and valve moving at such a relative speed that pockets of the conveyor register with pockets of the valve and deliver cans thereto; and means within the orbitof the conveyor and adjacent to the valve to prevent abnormal displacement of the cans in the. valve pockets.

9. In apparatus of the character specified. an endless conveyor having can pockets and a return bend; a rotary valve adjacent the return bend of the conveyor; said conveyor and valve moving at such relative speed that the pockets of the conveyor register with the pockets of the valve; and an ejector located in the bend of the conveyor adjacent the valve, and adapted to eject cansfrom the conveyor pockets into the valve pockets and prevent abnormal. displacement of the cans inthe valve pockets. v 4

10. In apparatus oft-l e character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets; wheels at the upper end of the conveyor for reversing the run of the conveyor, and a, rotary valve adjacent the upper-end of the conveyor; said conveyor and valve moving at eject cans from the tion the cans for discharge into the valve pockets.

11. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets; wheels at the upper end of the conveyor for reversing the run of the conveyor, a rotary valve adjacent the upper end of the conveyor; said conveyor and valve moving at such relative speed that the pockets of the conveyor register with pockets of the valve; and spaced can guides adjacent the des'ending side of the Wheels adapted to retain properly positioned cans in the conveyor pockets and to permit inn'n'operly spaced cans to drop out by gravity before reaching the valve.

12. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets; wheels at the upper end of the conveyor for reversing the run of the conveyor, a rotary valve adjacent the upper end of the conveyor; said conveyor and valve moving at such relative speed that the pockets of the conveyor register with pockets of the valve; means adjacent the descending side of the wheels adapted to retain properly positioned cans in the conveyor pockets and to permit improperly spaced cans to drop out by gravity before reaching the .valve; and means adj acent the valve adapted to eject cans from the conveyor pockets into the valve pockets.

13. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets; sprocket wheels at the upper end of the conveyor for reversing the run thereof; a rotary valve adjacent the wheels, said conveyor and valve moving at such relative speed that successive pockets ofthe conveyor register with successive pockets of the valve; and an ejector located within the bend of the conveyor and between the sprockets adapted to conveyor pockets into the valve pockets.

14. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets; wheels at the upper end of the conveyor for reversing the run of the conveyor; a rotary valve adjacent the upper end of the conveyor, said conveyor and valve moving at such relative speed that the pockets of the conveyor register with pockets of the valve; spaced can guides adjacent the descending side of the wheels adapted to retain properly positioned cans in the conveyor pockets and to permit improperly spaced cans to drop out by gravity before reaching the valve; and an ejector located within the bend of the conveyor and adjacent the valve and operable by the conveyor adapted to prevent abnormal displacemenbof the cans in the valve pockets.

15. In apparatus of the character spcci tied, an endless conveyor having can pockets; sprocket wheels at the upper end of the conveyor for reversing the run thereof; a rotary valve adjacent the wheels; said conveyor and valve moving at such relative speed that successive pockets of the conveyor register with successive pockets of the valve; and an ejector located within the bend of the convcyor and between the sprockets and adjacent the valve and operated by the conveyor, and adapted to prevent abnormal displacement of the cans in the valve pockets;

16. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having -.can pockets; sprocket wheels at the, upper end of the conveyor for reversing -tlie run thereof; a rotary valve adjacent the upper end of the conveyor; the conveyor and valve moving at such relative speed that the pockets of the conveyor register with pockets of the. valve; and a series of fingers moving with the wheels and adapted to position the cans in the conveyor pockets as they pass around the wheels so that the cans will be uniformly positioned for discharge into the valve pockets.

17. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets; sprocket wheels at the upper end of the conveyor for reversing the run thereof; a rotary valve adjacent the upper end of the conveyor; said conveyor and valve moving at such relative speed that successive pockets of the conveyor register with successivepockets of the valve: and spaced can guides at the descendi ng side of the wheels adapted to retain properly ppsitioned cans in the conveyor pocketsand to permit'improperly spaced cans to drop-out by gravity before reaching the valve.

18. In apparatus of the character specified, an endlessconveyor having can pockets; sprocket wheels at the upper end ofthe conveyor for reversing the run thereof; a rotary valve adjacent the upper end of the conveyor; said conveyor and valve moving at such relative speed that successive pockets of the con-v veyor register with successive pockets of the valve; spaced can guides at the descending side of the wheels adapted to retain properly positioned cans in the conveyor pockets and to permit improperly spaced cans to drop out by gravity ejector located within the bend of the conveyor between the sprockets and adjacent the valve adapted to eject" cans from the conveyor pockets into thevalve pockets and prevent abnormal displacement of the cans in the valve pockets.

19. In combination with an endless chainconveyor having can pockets: an ejector lo-. cated within a return bend of the conveyor, adapted to eject cans from the conveyor pockets running thereunder.

20. In combination with an endless conveyor having can pockets, means adapted to engage the cans in the conveyor pockets and uniformly position the cans for discharge from the conveyor.

21. In combination an endless conveyor having can pockets, wheels at the upper end before reaching the valve; and an of the conveyor for reversing the run thereof; and spaced can guides at the descending side of the wheels adapted to retain properly positioned cans in the conveyor pockets and per mit improperly spaced cans to drop out by gravi ty.

22. In combination with an endless chain conveyor having can pockets; 9. star wheel ejector, located within a return bend of the conveyor and operated by the conveyor adapted to eject cans from the conveyor pockets passing thereunder.

23. In combination with an endless conveyor having can pockets. and a rotatable series of fingers adjacent the conveyor adapted to engage the cans in the conveyorpockets as they pass-and uniformly position the cans for discharge from the conveyor.

24. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets, and a member adjacent the conveyor having pockets the pockets of the conveyor being adapted to be registered with pockets of the member; and means adjacent the member and within the orbit of the conveyor adapted to unitormly position the cans in the conveyor pockets prior to their discharge therefrom into the member pockets.

25. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets, a

. movable member adjacent the conveyor, also having can receiving pockets, said conveyor and member moving at such relative speed that pockets of the conveyor reglster with pockets of the member and deliver cans into the latter pockets, and, movable means cooperating with the conveyor pockets to prevent abnormal displacement of cans in the pockets at the point of discharge of the cans therefrom.

26. In apparatus of the characterspecified, an endless conveyor having can pockets, a movable member adjacent the conveyor, also having can receiving pockets, said conveyor that the pockets of the conveyor register with pockets of the member; and spaced can guides.

adapted to permit improperly spaced cans to drop out of the conveyor ockets by gravity before reaching the mem er, and to retain properly positioned cans in the conveyor pockets.

28. In apparatus of the character specified,

an endless conveyor having can pockets; :1

movable member adj acent the conveyor, also having can pockets, means for moving said conveyor and member at such relative speed that pockets of the conveyor register with pockets of the member and deliver cans thereto; and means within the orbit of the conveyor and adjacent to the member to prevent abnormal displacement of the cans in the pockets of the member when delivered thereto.

29. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets and a return bend; a movable member adjacent the return bend of the conveyor, also having can pockets; means for moving said member and conveyor at such relativespeed that the pockets of the conveyor register with the pockets of the member; and an ejector located in the bend ofthe conveyor adjacent the member and adapted to eject cans from the conveyor pockets into the member pockets and to prevent abnormal displacement of the cans in the member pockets when entered therein. 1

30. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets, a movable member adjacent the upper end of the conveyor, also having can pockets; means for moving said conveyor and member at such relative speeds that the pockets of the conveyor register with the pockets of the member; and fingers adapted to engage the cans in the conveyorpockets and uniformly position the cans therein before they are discharged into the pockets of the member.

31. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets;

wheels at the upper end of the conveyor for reversing the run of the conveyor; a movable member adjacent the upper end of the conveyor also having can pockets; means for moving said conveyor and member at such relative speed that'the pockets of the conveyor register with pockets of the member; and spaced can guides adjacent the descending side of the wheels adapted to retain properly positioned cans in the conveyor pockets and to permit improperly spaced cans to drop out by gravity before they can be discharged into the pockets of the member.

32. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets; sprocket wheels at the upper end of the conveyor for reversing the run thereof; a movable member adjacent the wheels also having can pockets; means for moving said conveyor and member at such relative speed that successive pockets of the conveyor register with successive pockets of the member; and an ejector located within the bend of the conveyor and between the sprockets adapted to eject cans from the conveyor pockets into the pockets of the member.

33. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having can pockets;

sprocket wheels at the upper end of the conveyor for reversing the run thereof; a movable member adjacent the upper end of the conveyor also having can pockets; means for moving the conveyor and member at such relative speed that the pockets of the conveyor register with pockets of the member; and a series of fingers moving with the Wheels and adapted to position the cans in 10 the conveyor pockets as they pass around the Wheels so that the cans will be uniformly positioned for discharge into the pockets of the said member; and an ejector for discharging cans from the conveyor pockets into the member pockets.

34. In apparatus of the character specified, an endless conveyor having pockets, and a pocketed valve adjacent the conveyor, the pockets of the conveyor being adapted to register with pockets of the valve; and means to take up clearance between the cans and the walls of the conveyor pockets to properly position the cans in the conveyor pockets prior to their discharge therefrom into the valve pockets.

In testimon that I claim the foregoing as my own, I a x my signature.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON. 

